Toolchests

[RampantAndroid]

Can anyone say whether the cheap Harbor Freight US General tool chests are any good compared to the cheap Craftsman toolchests?

The Craftsman I just got: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-26-i...009CO56572812B?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

The HF one I'd be looking at is this one:
http://www.harborfreight.com/tool-s...wer-top-chest.html#pr-header-back-to-top-link

My wife bought me the Craftsman one for X-Mas - we had to exchange the first set today, as two of the pieces were dented (without the cardboard box being damaged - looked like the damage was done BEFORE it was painted) and the top piece was warped/wobbled. The new set we got isn't dented, but the top piece still wobbles. The fact that two of the top pieces have the same problem makes me doubt the quality of Craftsman.

The Harbor Freight chest looks like it's decent, and honestly having two pieces instead of three sounds a bit more stable...but it's Harbor Freight, which makes me not sure if it's any good. A lot of good reviews though, so I figured I'd ask if anyone has personal experience?

Thanks!

 

[MongGrel]

I you want a real tool chest, maybe look around for a used Kennedy.

I still use my Grandfathers.

Even a used one is better than many new things.

Something along these lines.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kennedy-Mac...615747?hash=item41a1559903:g:P9UAAMXQlgtS-EuE

I have a couple of old school Craftsman boxes around also, they just aren't the same by a long shot.

 

[Viper GTS]

The US General Pro stuff is pretty much the gem of harbor freight. Do a little looking around, there are some great comparison threads out there. They're far better built than just about anything below the tool truck brands.

Go check them out you will not be disappointed.

Here I found it for you:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153445

Viper GTS

 

[leper84]

I'd absolutely go with the Harbor Freight ones. Nothing anyone sells in the same price range compares.

I've had this one for a couple years- http://www.harborfreight.com/tool-s...ossy-red-industrial-roller-cabinet-68784.html

I haven't been nice to it and haven't had any issues. Not the biggest or deepest drawers but more than enough for home use.

Its been my experience that craftsman/husky/cobalt boxes in that price range are either smaller, use thinner metal or both. You can get a nice, quality box from one of those three but then you're getting into used Snap on territory in price.

The US General one you linked also has 1300 cu in more storage for $80 less.

 

[RLGL]

The biggest spec to look at in boxes is the weight capacity per drawer.
I have both Craftsman and RemLine.

 

[shabby]

Can anyone say whether the cheap Harbor Freight US General tool chests are any good compared to the cheap Craftsman toolchests?

They're probably both made in the same factory in china so the "quality" should be identical.

 

[Evilviking]

I have a Snap On tool box. (Nothing compares) but after looking at the tool boxes at harbor freight I wouldnt hesitate to pick up a US General box . Pretty heavy gauge steel. Ball bearing drawers. They look fairly good too

 

[leper84]

I have a Snap On tool box. (Nothing compares) and after looking at the tool boxes at harbor freight I would pick one up. Pretty heavy gauge steel. Ball bearing drawers. They look fairly good too

I have a few Snap On boxes. They're amazing, but we're talking $1-2k to start for a used snappy vs. the $300-400 OP is looking for. In that price range US General is king.

 

[Evilviking]

I have a few Snap On boxes. They're amazing, but we're talking $1-2k to start for a used snappy vs. the $300-400 OP is looking for. In that price range US General is king.

Edited original post. I would pick up a harbor freight box

 

[MongGrel]

Nothing wrong with Snap On, but new they are going to be expensive, yeah.

Walk into any tool shop and you're probably going to see Kennedy's and Gerstner's, but they are pricey new also.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...rm=QBIR&pq=machinist tool&sc=8-14&sp=4&sk=IA3

 

[olds]

Anything with ball bearing slides.

 

[Jimzz]

This is the HF box I have...

http://www.harborfreight.com/44-in-13-Drawer-Glossy-Red-Industrial-Roller-Cabinet-68784.html

Its great and can handle a good amount of weight.

 

[SparkyJJO]

After reading some comparisons I'm actually surprised at the HF 44 inch build quality. The wheels leave a bit to be desired but if you're not moving it around much it doesn't really matter.

I generally dislike HF because of the crap, but if that is half decent I may have to get one whenever I get my garage cleaned up and set up properly.

 

[skyking]

I am shopping for a new stack, and I am going with this one from costco.
http://www.costco.com/Kirkland-Signature%E2%84%A2-42%22-Mobile-16-Drawer-Tool-Chest.product.100148149.html

The reviews for it are great. It has individual latches on each drawer, which will take some getting used to.
Shipping weight on the two pieces is just shy of 400 pounds. It is very sturdy, has double slides on the big drawer.
I had entertained this one from Home Depot at $509

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-41-in-16-Drawer-Tool-Chest-and-Rolling-Tool-Cabinet-Set-Black-HOTC4116B1QES/205080371
I really like the tall hutch for my cordless tools and chargers, but there is no comparison to weight and build quality. The costco unit feels 100 pounds sturdier.
I will cut a cord into the back of the cabinet door compartment and put my chargers in there.
This set at Lowes is nice, but not worth the extra cost.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_538540-5573...49&Ns=p_product_price|1&pl=1&Ntt=tool+storage

http://www.lowes.com/pd_538540-55738-HS41SSRC-13___?productId=50175949&pl=1&Ntt=tool+storage

EDIT:
I went to look at the comparable 44" set at harbor freight, and it was priced $80 more than the costco 42" stack.
It does have similar weight to it, which is a crude measure to what you are getting. I will go look at it before committing to the coscto, but costco's policies are hard to beat.

 

[kn51]

Sears has cheapened stuff so much over the years I'll give the cliff notes.

Harbor Freight > Hitler in hell > Craftsman.

I'm going to jettison one of my Craftsman chests and replace it with a HF. They really are good boxes. Odd thing is with them there are reports of orange peel for the matching top box. I've verified that when checking them out at local store.

Sad really, I'm going to keep my other 20 year old Craftsman chest/box combo because it is built like a tank. The other one feels like a tinker toy.

 

[evident]

Think i'm going to consider getting the harbor freight 44inch for $389 when the time comes. highly regarded on garagejournal

 

[RampantAndroid]

They're probably both made in the same factory in china so the "quality" should be identical.

Ehhh....from what I've seen, no. The craftsman boxes are thinner steel it seems, and their quality control from my direct experience is awful.

The US General Pro stuff is pretty much the gem of harbor freight. Do a little looking around, there are some great comparison threads out there. They're far better built than just about anything below the tool truck brands.

Go check them out you will not be disappointed.

Here I found it for you:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153445

Viper GTS

I had found this site via Reddit, actually - I'd posted in there around the time you made this post Thanks for the link - it's a great post.

This is the HF box I have...

http://www.harborfreight.com/44-in-13-Drawer-Glossy-Red-Industrial-Roller-Cabinet-68784.html

Its great and can handle a good amount of weight.

That's the other option I've been looking at. The garage forum review highlights that as having thicker steel and better casters...and also double slided drawers. All in all, it looks like a great box. Do you just have the bottom or do you also have the matching hutch?

I was thinking that if I bought that one, I'd find an old solid door and cut it to fit on top of the chest and then be able to mount a vice on it and have a solid working surface in my garage since I'm pretty space constrained. With the wheels locked, is it pretty stable?

 

[RampantAndroid]

Think i'm going to consider getting the harbor freight 44inch for $389 when the time comes. highly regarded on garagejournal

Yeah - they really do like it. I'll admit, I'm surprised. I know harbor freight as the "I only need this tool once" store...

Sears has cheapened stuff so much over the years I'll give the cliff notes.

Harbor Freight > Hitler in hell > Craftsman.

I'm going to jettison one of my Craftsman chests and replace it with a HF. They really are good boxes. Odd thing is with them there are reports of orange peel for the matching top box. I've verified that when checking them out at local store.

Sad really, I'm going to keep my other 20 year old Craftsman chest/box combo because it is built like a tank. The other one feels like a tinker toy.

Yeah, my experience with models built this year is the same. They're flimsy and poorly assembled. Out of the box (that was NOT damaged) getting two dented units and a third that isn't properly squared is pretty off putting. It's better than the husky brand crap that you'll find at Home Depot and Lowes, but that's not saying too much.

I am shopping for a new stack, and I am going with this one from costco.
http://www.costco.com/Kirkland-Signature%E2%84%A2-42%22-Mobile-16-Drawer-Tool-Chest.product.100148149.html

If I were looking for that much storage, it'd be an option...and Costco is hard to beat with their guarantees.

 

[kn51]

Yeah, my experience with models built this year is the same. They're flimsy and poorly assembled. Out of the box (that was NOT damaged) getting two dented units and a third that isn't properly squared is pretty off putting. It's better than the husky brand crap that you'll find at Home Depot and Lowes, but that's not saying too much.

Yep. I can't imagine they can keep steam-rolling with the name. They are producing junk.

I have so many coupons and rewards points not sure what to do before the end of the year.

 

[Jimzz]

I was thinking that if I bought that one, I'd find an old solid door and cut it to fit on top of the chest and then be able to mount a vice on it and have a solid working surface in my garage since I'm pretty space constrained. With the wheels locked, is it pretty stable?

I only have the bottom HF piece, no top. I use the top as a small work area.

I have a cheap craftsman one for my sandpaper and other light items I do not use as much.

 

[skyking]

Costco's return policies are great, but selection is not one of their strong points. Luckily that was the size I was looking for.

 

[leper84]

I was thinking that if I bought that one, I'd find an old solid door and cut it to fit on top of the chest and then be able to mount a vice on it and have a solid working surface in my garage since I'm pretty space constrained. With the wheels locked, is it pretty stable?

I have that same one. The casters will still swivel some when locked, so you get a little movement. But if its on level ground its definitely sturdy. I don't recommend it but I use mine from time to time to hammer out/in some ujoints and it hasn't phased it.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Well, a toolchest followed me home:

It's the 44" unit from HF. Compared it to the 26" unit and all of the points noted by the garage forum were true, though both are great chests from a cursory look. Can't wait to load it up. $100 more than the Craftsman unit, but worth it I think. I might buy the $200 side unit to expand in a year or so.

I have that same one. The casters will still swivel some when locked, so you get a little movement. But if its on level ground its definitely sturdy. I don't recommend it but I use mine from time to time to hammer out/in some ujoints and it hasn't phased it.

I only have the bottom HF piece, no top. I use the top as a small work area.

I have a cheap craftsman one for my sandpaper and other light items I do not use as much.

Great to know I'm not the only one with this in mind. My father-in-law thinks MDF would work great, and he's more than happy to help cut it to size and drill holes for a small vice (and he helped load/unload the chest...for a guy in his late 60s, he's in great shape...) For anyone looking at the 44" unit from HF, the boxing is....interesting. Wood, meant to be loaded with a forklift. If you have a small pickup, take the canopy off - lying down it's around 45" wide...too wide for the Nissan Pathfinder we were using.

Yep. I can't imagine they can keep steam-rolling with the name. They are producing junk.

I have so many coupons and rewards points not sure what to do before the end of the year.

I think Sears is dead, really. How many of us grew up surrounded by Sears/Craftsman tools and tool chests? (my dad had 2 chests from them, both incredibly solid.) How long until that's no longer true, or enough word spreads? It can't be long.

 

[evident]

Well, a toolchest followed me home:

It's the 44" unit from HF. Compared it to the 26" unit and all of the points noted by the garage forum were true, though both are great chests from a cursory look. Can't wait to load it up. $100 more than the Craftsman unit, but worth it I think. I might buy the $200 side unit to expand in a year or so.





Great to know I'm not the only one with this in mind. My father-in-law thinks MDF would work great, and he's more than happy to help cut it to size and drill holes for a small vice (and he helped load/unload the chest...for a guy in his late 60s, he's in great shape...) For anyone looking at the 44" unit from HF, the boxing is....interesting. Wood, meant to be loaded with a forklift. If you have a small pickup, take the canopy off - lying down it's around 45" wide...too wide for the Nissan Pathfinder we were using.



I think Sears is dead, really. How many of us grew up surrounded by Sears/Craftsman tools and tool chests? (my dad had 2 chests from them, both incredibly solid.) How long until that's no longer true, or enough word spreads? It can't be long.

Congrats, looks like a beast. I might have to pick one up for myself sometime next year. I currently have a cheapy craftsman top part that i think might be able to fit on top of that US General one.

Think it could fit in a toyota highlander / RX350? or do i have to borrow my friend's flat bed?

 

[RampantAndroid]

Congrats, looks like a beast. I might have to pick one up for myself sometime next year. I currently have a cheapy craftsman top part that i think might be able to fit on top of that US General one.

Think it could fit in a toyota highlander / RX350? or do i have to borrow my friend's flat bed?

Don't know - it comes with the wheels on. I forget how deep it was, but if you have 45 inches of flat space, you might be fine. Get a friend to help move it though

I'm pretty sure a craftsman small top would fit this easily.